Halloween is right around the corner and many students are on the hunt for costumes. One enjoyable and inexpensive way of obtaining a costume is to make one yourself.
Devan Cartwright, the sewing tech of Oregon State University’s Craft Center, had a few suggestions for easy Do-It-Yourself projects.
The first suggestion Cartwright offered was a mushroom hat. This is a versatile piece that can be used for a number of different cottage core costumes.
To make it, start with a wide-brimmed hat. Drape a piece of fabric over the top of the hat and stitch down at the brim, leaving room to stuff it. There should be empty space from the top of the hat to the brim, which should be stuffed. Once stuffed and stitched closed, this can be decorated to resemble any species of mushroom desired.
“You can also put felt/paint spots on the top of the mushroom, depending on what species you’d like to be,” Cartwright said in an email. They also added they plan on using this craft for their own costume.
Secondly, Cartwright suggested a rain cloud.
“Attach some raindrop cutouts (or alternatively, images of cats and dogs for a good pun) to various lengths of thread or fishing line,” Cartwright said. “You can tape, sew, staple, etc. the other end of each line to the underside/edges of an umbrella so they dangle around whoever holds it, creating the look of rain.”
Finally, to complete the look, decorate the umbrella with white or gray cotton balls or stuffing to resemble clouds.
Next, Cartwright suggested the more playful, joking option of a “cereal killer,” citing a costume they have seen previously.
The requirements for this are simple: Pick clothing you don’t mind staining, splatter red paint or fake blood all over yourself. Cartwright suggests holding a cereal box stabbed through with a kitchen knife as a prop, but a butter knife also works if safety is a concern.
Finally, Cartwright suggested “fake news” as another costume based on a pun.
It requires attaching newspaper clippings to a belt or an old skirt, picking an old, plain shirt and painting the word “fake” on it in big red or black letters.
Of course, these are not the only options for costumes, and the Craft Center is available to provide advice and assistance with ideas.
They are located in the Student Experience Center and are open in the afternoon from 12:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 12:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday and 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
